First John

Completed by John Reynolds, of
Shrewsbury.

1059

AN

EXPOSITION,

W I T H P R A C T I C A L O B S E
R V A T I O N S,

OF THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF

J O H N.

Though the
continued tradition of the church attests that this epistle came
from John the apostle, yet we may observe some other evidence that
will confirm (or with some perhaps even outweigh) the certainty of
that tradition. It should seem that the penman was one of the
apostolical college by the sensible palpable assurance he had of
the truth of the Mediator's person in his human nature: That
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we
have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of
life, v. 1. Here
he takes notice of the evidence the Lord gave to Thomas of his
resurrection, by calling him to feel the prints of the nails and of
the spear, which is recorded by John. And he must have been one of
the disciples present when the Lord came on the same day in which
he arose from the dead, and showed them his hands and his side,
John xx. 20. But, that we
may be assured which apostle this was, there is scarcely a critic
or competent judge of diction, or style of argument and spirit, but
will adjudge this epistle to the writer of that gospel that bears
the name of the apostle John. They wonderfully agree in the titles
and characters of the Redeemer: The Word, the Life, the Light;
his name was the Word of God. Compare ch. i. 1 and v. 7 with John
i. 1 and Rev. xix. 13. They agree in the commendation of
God's love to us (ch. iii. 1 and ch. iv. 9; John
iii. 16), and in speaking of our regeneration, or being
born of God, ch. iii. 9; iv. 7; and v. 1;
John iii. 5, 6. Lastly (to add no more instances, which
may be easily seen in comparing this epistle with that gospel),
they agree in the allusion to, or application of, that passage in
that gospel which relates (and which alone relates) the issuing of
water and blood out of the Redeemer's opened side: This is he
that came by water and blood, ch. v. 6. Thus the epistle plainly
appears to flow from the same pen as that gospel did. Now I know
not that the text, or the intrinsic history of any of the gospels,
gives us such assurance of its writer or penman as that ascribed to
John plainly does. There (viz. ch. xxi. 24) the sacred historian
thus notifies himself: This is the disciple that testifieth of
these things and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony
is true. Now who is this disciple, but he concerning whom Peter
asked, What shall this man do? And concerning whom the Lord
answered, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee? (v. 22).
And who (v. 20) is
described by these three characters:—1. That he is the
disciple whom Jesus loved, the Lord's peculiar friend. 2.
That he also leaned on his breast at supper. 3. That he said
unto him, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? As sure then
as it is that that disciple was John, so sure may the church be
that that gospel and this epistle came from the beloved John.

The epistle is styled general, as
being not inscribed to any particular church; it is, as a circular
letter (or visitation charge), sent to divers churches (some say of
Parthia), in order to confirm them in their stedfast adherence to
the Lord Christ, and the sacred doctrines concerning his person and
office, against seducers; and to instigate them to adorn that
doctrine by love to God and man, and particularly to each other, as
being descended from God, united by the same head, and travelling
towards the same eternal life.